Putin calls for all countries to eliminate their chemical weapons stockpiles

MOSCOW, Russia – President Vladimir Putin has called on the international community to destroy their chemical weapons stockpiles, following the Libyan and Russian examples.

“We call on the countries, which have chemical weapons, to follow our example and make every effort to complete soon the elimination of their remaining stockpiles, and the countries, which are outside the international and legal framework of the Convention, to immediately join it,” Putin said.

“I’m sure that the manifestation of a firm political will should allow us to achieve our common goal of creating a world free from chemical weapons,” Putin said.

Putin also said this is “an important step towards a more responsible and stable world.”

Paul Antonopoulos is a Research Fellow at the Center for Syncretic Studies. He has an MA in International Relations and is interested in Great Power Rivalry as well as the International Relations and Political Economy of the Middle East and Latin America.